Mexican soccer power Pachuca sends pro scouts to Amarillo

Youth soccer players will get their chance to shine in front of professional scouts from one of the biggest teams in Mexico this weekend, as Pachuca Soccer Club has two scouts in town to look at some of the area’s best players.

According to those involved with the Pachuca Amarillo Soccer School, formed earlier this year in connection with the Pachuca team in Mexico, who plays in the country’s top soccer league, the step of having professional scouts in the area to look at players is a major step for the game in Amarillo.

“I think the importance of this is it’s a really important step for soccer,” program coordinator Jose Arzat said. “It’s the first time in Amarillo to have a scout and former player interested in players and the community. I think this is a game-changer for soccer in the community, this is one of the greatest steps for soccer in the history of Amarillo. This is something that amazes me, because for us having this opportunity, bringing this to Amarillo, this is something only happening in big areas.”

Pachucha has sent long-time scout Ricardo Ochoa, as well a former player Andres Chitiva for the event, which will run all day Saturday and Sunday. Chitiva played 230 games for Pachucha in his playing career, as well as making several appearances for the Columbian National Team.

According to Chitiva, the relationship between Pachucha and Amarillo is not a one time thing, and something they hope continues to grow as the team makes more trips back to the area in the future.

“This is not just a one-time scout,” Chitiva said through an interpreter. “A lot of times you have people who come once and never come back, this is the beginning if building a legacy for us as soccer club. We want to come back and keep those relationships with the kids and we can keep kids on the radar and see them grow in soccer. We want to come once or twice a year, this is a great step, this is the beginning of one of the best soccer schools in the state of Texas.”

According to those with the team, Pachucha will eye players as young as 10, and looks for players where the team might be thin in the developmental ranks.

“We’re interested in kids that fill a position, we’re trying to see what we need right now,” Ochoa said. from there it goes to the person, to seeing techniques, and tactics and the basic fundamentals. But as a person we want someone who can represent Pachucha, someone who is like a family member because Pachuca is like a family.”

The events of the weekend begin tonight at 7 p.m. with an event open to the public at Coulter Road Baptist Church that will allow fans, players, and the public to meet Chitiva and Ochoa to hear more about their travels and experiences in soccer.

Following Saturday’s day of scouting, a friendly game will be played featuring Chitiva in action.